Chapter 441: Napoleon III's Gift

“Geographically speaking, Sarawak, Borneo, is really a good place and a good pivot point.”

In the Palace of Versailles in Paris, France, Napoleon III stared attentively at the map on the wall.

"Your Majesty, not only is the geographical condition here superior, it is very close to the Qing Dynasty, but what is even more valuable is that it is suitable for building a port, which can not only facilitate our country's trade in East Asia and Southeast Asia. France's Pacific Fleet also needs a good port in the Pacific. , it’s very suitable here.”

Trot said silently.

He had personally inspected the place and liked it.

"As the general said, all the conditions here are very good, except that we have to be neighbors with the British. Being neighbors with the British is a very troublesome thing."

Napoleon III looked away from the map.

He is a royal nobleman, but he is not a princely nobleman who grew up in the inner palace and is ignorant of worldly affairs.

Before ascending the throne of the French Emperor, Napoleon III wandered around, and his embarrassing status made him suffer from the warmth and ups and downs of the world.

His wandering life gave him rich life experiences.

He knows very well that any gift, especially an attractive gift, from the moment you accept it, it means that you also have to bear the price of accepting this gift.

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In this world, there is never a gift without a reason, let alone a gift without a reason.

Napoleon III saw through Liang Yao's thoughts at a glance. It was not so much that Liang Yao gave a piece of land in North Borneo to France in order to please him.

Rather, Liang Yao hoped to distract the British.

As for where the attention that the British dispersed went, there is no doubt that it fell into the hands of France.

Of course, Napoleon III could also choose not to accept this generous gift from Liang Yao, so that he would not have to bear the pressure from the British.

However, this land is too tempting for France. Napoleon III was so seductive that he couldn't bear to refuse.

France currently does not have a colony in East Asia and Southeast Asia. They need a colony as the fulcrum of the French Empire in Southeast Asia and Asia.

As the second largest colonial power, France does not have a large number of colonies, but there are too few colonies with good location conditions.

Most of the colonies with good location conditions are in the hands of Britain, France's current ally.

"But we need this port." Tromo looked at the island of Borneo on the map, and he couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva.

Tromo was afraid that Napoleon III would reject this generous gift. If Napoleon III refused, his fleet would lose a base in the Pacific.

"Really needed."

Napoleon III returned to the throne with his hands behind his back, and asked James at the foot of the stairs.

"Earl James, you have had direct contact with Liang Yao, tell me how you feel about this person. I want to hear it."

After the elder Meyer of the Rothschild family became successful in business, he placed his five sons in five political and commercial centers in Europe, so that the old Rothschild family could spread throughout Europe.

This person under Napoleon III is the French branch of the Rothschild family.

He controls France's financial industry and is one of the most prominent figures in French business circles in terms of status and wealth.

Napoleon III's first indirect contact with Liang Yao was a congratulatory letter he received before and after he ascended the throne.

However, this congratulatory letter from a wealthy American businessman did not attract the attention of Napoleon III.

After all, he was already very close to the top of power in France at that time, and there were countless people who wanted to curry favor with him.

Napoleon III did not expect that after that letter, he would still interact with this wealthy American businessman.

From military uniform orders, to arms orders, from the medical team that can cure cholera to this land that he covets.

"Your Majesty, although Liang Yao and I have had contact, it was just a one-time relationship. I don't know this person very well," James replied.

"How dare you be his agent in France if you don't know him very well? You must have transported all the lamp oil burned in the Palace of Versailles from California." Napoleon III said.

James is a very shrewd businessman, not a fuel-saving lamp. The person who can make James willing to be an agent and use the Rothschild family's sales network in France is naturally not a simple person.

"Then I will boldly tell you some of my personal understanding of Liang Yao." After James pondered for a moment, he gave his evaluation of Liang Yao.

"Smart, smooth, with a keen sense of business and a vicious eye."

"These are just superficial things." Napoleon III listened carefully to James's evaluation of Liang Yao.

"If a person has an army, money, and political status, what else does he want?"

"Your Majesty, I have nothing but money, and I know nothing about things other than business. I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to answer your question." James answered Napoleon III's question after careful consideration.

Obviously, Napoleon III was not satisfied with James's answer.

"What if you must answer?" said Napoleon III.

"Of course it's more money, a stronger army, and a higher political status." James thought for a while and replied.

"But only a strong country can give you these." Napoleon III looked at the map.

"Ambition, this is a complete ambitious person. The one who can easily draw boundaries and give away land is not a general, but an emperor! His ambition is definitely not to be a general."

Thinking of generals, Napoleon III couldn't help but think of his uncle Napoleon I and Caesar. They were also generals.

Only an immature country like America would allow a person to have both huge wealth and a powerful army.

If it were France, he would never allow such a person to exist. At least he would not allow him to have such a huge amount of wealth and a powerful army at the same time.

"Emperor, America is a republic, there is no emperor." Tro said silently in surprise.

"In the past, France did not have a republic. In the future, there will be no more."

After speaking, Napoleon III stood up and looked out the window. At this time, it was raining outside the window. This was a relatively bad weather.

"I have always heard that Chinese people value reciprocity. Since Liang Yao has given us a generous gift, if we do not return the gift, it will appear that we French people are impolite.

Liang Yao will hold a wedding in New York at the end of the year. Sir James, I am afraid you will have to go to New York to attend Liang Yao's wedding."

More friends mean more roads, more enemies mean more walls.

Liang Yao, and even America and France currently have no core conflicts of interest.

Napoleon III is still willing to make friends with this likable friend.

"Your Majesty, I wonder what gift Your Majesty would like to give back to Liang Yao?" James asked.

What should I give?

Napoleon III was thinking about what gift should be more appropriate for Liang Yao, which would better show his status and generosity.

He had previously given Liang Yao a set of accessories, but now it might not be so appropriate to give him some small items.

"I will give him a title, a French man, a viscount." After thinking for a long time, Napoleon III decided to give Liang Yao a title.

"This return gift is perfect. I'm afraid only you can give such a meaningful gift." James agreed.